Читать книгу Secrets Of A Duchess - Kaitlin O'Riley - Страница 6

London, England

May 1865

Lord and Lady Maxwell’s ballroom was decorated with colorful garlands of fresh flowers perfuming the air and countless flickering candles lighting the room. Long oak tables, draped with the finest linen cloths trimmed in Belgian lace, were laden with shining sterling silver platters piled with delicacies and refreshments of all sorts and sparkling Irish crystal champagne flutes arranged artfully along the side, ready for toasting. A myriad of obliging servants were there to accommodate the slightest need of the hundreds of invited guests, the crème de la crème of London society, arriving in their most formal attire. The full orchestra, hidden behind a delicate Chinese screen, played melodiously at the end of the room near the dance floor. The steady buzz of voices in animated conversation was punctuated with bursts of merry laughter echoing through the elegant crowd of young debutantes, hopeful parents, eligible bachelors, social climbers, and society matrons. For the first grand ball of the Season, a general feeling of excitement and expectation was in the air, and everyone was in high spirits.

Olivia Fairchild, the Dowager Countess of Glenwood, had wasted no time in introducing her two granddaughters to the sons and grandsons of her aristocratic friends, and soon both Emma’s and Caroline’s dance cards were filled.

“Now, girls, try to remember everything your Aunt Jane and I taught you,” Olivia intoned in an encouraging whisper.

At her insistence, both granddaughters had been dressed painstakingly for their debut. The preparations had taken nearly all day. As young girls traditionally did at their first ball, Caroline, although considered somewhat old at twenty-two, wore a gown of soft white satin with small, capped sleeves, which accentuated her fair skin and slender figure. Her long, honey-colored hair was pinned up loosely on her head, and tiny white rosebuds were arranged there, forming a delicate crown, while stray tendrils of hair curled softly around her face. The effect was casually elegant, but it had taken what seemed like hours to get it just right. Arm-length white gloves and white satin slippers completed the ethereal ensemble.

As Caroline Armstrong twirled the white satin ribbon that held her card, she dreaded the part she knew she had to play when the first gentleman came to claim his dance. In spite of her grandmother’s hopeful predictions for her, a brilliant Season with scores of promising gentlemen vying for her hand in marriage was not in Caroline’s future. She would make sure of that. She had to.

When Sir Edward Winslow extended his arm to her, Caroline gave him a half-hearted smile and lowered her eyes demurely as he escorted her to the dance floor. He was a nice-looking young man of average height with a shy grin. Within a matter of minutes, she was thanking heaven for every dance lesson she had endured, because she needed all her resources to follow Sir Edward Winslow’s jerky, erratic movements. Too enthusiastic a dancer to simply waltz, Edward marched her awkwardly about the floor, pulling on her arms with a determined look of concentration on his long face. As she struggled to stay in step with his clumsy gait, she wondered if the boy had ever had a dance lesson in his life.

“It is a pleasure dancing with you, Miss Armstrong,” he declared while panting with exertion. “You are like dancing with an angel from heaven.”

“Thank you.” She looked down at her poor, trod-upon feet in their brand-new dainty slippers, and she bit her lip. The experience was quite the opposite of heavenly! Yet Lord Winslow seemed very kind, and feeling somewhat sorry for him, she hadn’t the heart to put her secret plan into effect and simply let him fall under the impression that she was extremely shy. Not daring to engage him in any conversation, she did not speak again, only nodded her head in answer to his polite questions and marched the remainder of the waltz with him.

Her next partner, however, was fairly begging to be set down a notch or two and appeared to be an apt subject upon which to implement her untested method of deterring suitors. Caroline became much more blatant in her discouragement of him, if only to save herself from ever having to be near the man again. Oily was the only word she could think of to describe Lord Arthur Kingston. Maybe a snake, she thought, as he eased her to the dance floor. His hard fingers pressed tightly against her arms, and his too-bright smile seemed avaricious. Some women might have found him handsome enough in a slick sort of way, but the pair of thin, wet lips under his fashionable set of whiskers and the calculating gleam in his sharp eyes unnerved her. Not quite sure why she felt so instantly repulsed by him, she reasoned now was as good a time as any to turn him away.

“You, Miss Armstrong,” he whispered heatedly in her ear as he squeezed her tighter, “are the prettiest girl here tonight. I thought I knew all the prettiest girls in London. Where have you been hiding all this time?”

And without compunction for this ungentlemanly gentleman, Caroline put her secret plan into effect.

Wishing to escape another unwanted dance partner, Caroline managed to slip away from the ballroom unnoticed. Her aunt and uncle were engaged in conversation with Lady Maxwell; her sister was dancing a reel with a rather short, blond gentleman; and her grandmother was having an animated discussion with Lady Weatherby. She would not be missed for a moment or two. She passed the card room, where the older ladies and gentlemen were playing whist and faro, and ambled aimlessly down a long hallway, taking a moment here and there to admire the formal Maxwell family portraits displayed on the walls. No one paid any attention to her as she ascended a short flight of stairs and stepped through a set of French doors, which opened onto a marble balcony overlooking a well-manicured garden.

A full moon bathed the balcony in a silvery light, and Caroline breathed in the fresh air, which was perfumed with the scent of blooming lilacs. The cool air felt refreshing after the stuffiness of the ballroom. Because she was so warm and still unused to wearing them, she peeled off her long, white gloves and stuffed them into her small reticule, reminding herself to don them again before she returned to her grandmother. Olivia would certainly disapprove of her granddaughter being gloveless.

Relieved to finally be alone, she leaned against a tall marble pillar, which felt deliciously cool against her warm skin, and breathed deeply. It was quiet here; she could barely hear the faint strains of music from the ballroom. Gazing up at the glowing full moon, her thoughts drifted, and a slight sigh escaped her.

The mere fact that she was attending a ball in London at all was still unbelievable. Only months earlier she lived with her father and sister in a little cottage in the country. When her father died last October, he left her and Emma penniless, and Caroline had just accepted a position as a governess with a family in Sussex. Then her grandmother, Olivia Fairchild, the Dowager Countess of Glenwood, arrived, rescuing her and Emma from an uncertain fate and bringing them into a new world. She consequently met a family she had never known. During the past six months, she had grown to love her grandmother, as well as her mother’s brother, Uncle Kit, and his wife, Jane, and their young son, Teddy. This new family was a soothing balm to help ease the ache of being left orphaned by the death of both her parents. Now after months of training in etiquette and deportment with her grandmother and Aunt Jane, she was finally making her Season debut in London, as all well-bred young ladies of society did. The ultimate goal, of which, was to find a suitable husband.

She had agonized for weeks over what to do about this situation. Would she be able to deter any suitors without causing her grandmother to become aware of her true intentions? Would her newly devised plan actually work? Could she extricate herself from the possibility of marriage without arousing suspicion of the truth?

The truth that still haunted her night after night. The truth that she could not marry anyone.

“Such a beautiful young lady shouldn’t look so sad on such a beautiful night.”

Almost jumping out of her skin, Caroline was startled by the sound of a deep male voice. With her hand on her pounding heart, she turned and saw the tall figure of a man leaning against another white marble column in the shadows at the far end of the balcony.

“I apologize for startling you.”

After taking a shaky breath, her hand still on her heart, she murmured, “No, I am sorry, sir. I had no idea anyone else was out here. Forgive me if I have intruded.” She turned to leave.

“No apologies are necessary. There is no reason for you to go,” he said, his voice distinctive in its resonance. “We can both enjoy this incredible full moon.”

As he moved forward and the moonlight fell across his face, Caroline saw that she did not recognize the man standing in the shadows. In fact, she was quite certain that she had never met him, because she would have remembered seeing that face. Oh yes, she definitely would have remembered seeing that man’s face before. Her heart skipped a little beat as she stared up at him, startling her more than his voice had just done. He was quite tall and powerfully built. He possessed a muscular body that was evidently used to a great deal of physical activity, and he held himself with an easy confidence. A suit of the finest quality fit his masculine form elegantly, without being fussy. Dark black hair covered his head, and piercing blue eyes peered astutely from his classically chiseled face. He was not sporting a set of whiskers, as was the current fashion for men, but was clean shaven, which set off his features more prominently: an aquiline nose; a strong, angular jawline; and dark, expressive eyebrows framed eyes that projected honesty, intelligence, and humor. He was handsome with a very commanding presence.

The man was perfect looking.

“Why aren’t you inside, trying to find a husband like all the other girls?” He stepped toward her, stopping about a foot away, and leaned himself casually against the white marble railing.

She saw him smile and then realized he was teasing her. Oddly unsettled by his physical presence and more than a little irked by his condescending comment, she offered back with slight sarcasm, “Maybe I don’t want a husband.”

With a smirk on his handsome face, he cast a doubtful look in her direction. He uttered somewhat scornfully, “In all my life I have yet to meet a female that didn’t want a husband.”

Now Caroline was irritated. He had actually smirked at her! Moreover, he certainly harbored a low opinion of women. “Well, there is always a first time for everything. I am Miss Caroline Armstrong. And I do not want a husband.” She curtsied in mock politeness, a contemptuous look on her face, certain that she had broken quite a number of rules of etiquette on the proper introduction to a gentleman. “I am pleased to meet you.”

Picking up on her little game, he bowed most elegantly, his eyes flashing at her. “I am Alexander Woodward, and it is, indeed, an honor to meet you, Miss Armstrong.” Each word dripped with disdain.

His name sounded vaguely familiar to her, but then she had been introduced to so many people in the past weeks that all the names had blurred. “Congratulations, Mr. Woodward. You have finally met a woman who does not wish to get married.” Then she added impetuously, “I do hope you don’t faint.”

He shook his head lightly and grinned at her with a wry look. “I find it very difficult to imagine that a young lady such as yourself has no interest in getting married.”

“Then you obviously have a very poor imagination.”

He laughed out loud at that. An appreciative laugh, deep and full of mirth. Then, with an intense stare, he questioned her. “Why are you having a Season then, Miss Armstrong, if not to look for a husband?”

“Because my grandmother expects me to.” The truth was out of Caroline’s mouth before she could consider what she was saying. It was a relief to finally be honest about how she felt. Even to a complete stranger. And a very handsome stranger at that. “She, along with everyone else in society, seems to think that it is of the utmost importance for me to get married as quickly as possible.”

“You don’t agree with that sentiment?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“What if a suitable young man offers for you? What will you do then?”

“That won’t happen because I shall not encourage anyone. I’ll be a bluestocking, deadly dull, a boring old spinster.” Now she had confessed her plan to him. What was she thinking?

“I don’t think you could convince anyone that you are a boring old spinster.”

“My, but you are full of opinions, Mr. Woodward.”

“As are you, Miss Armstrong. But I stand by my opinion that you couldn’t convince anyone that you are a boring old spinster. Not with your looks, anyway.” His eyes moved over her, and her cheeks warmed under his regard.

“You didn’t see me dance with Lord Kingston earlier. I think he found me most disagreeable.” She grinned in satisfaction at the memory of the repellant man scurrying away from her after their brief dance. “In fact, I’m positive he did.”

“Arthur Kingston?” Alex muttered in disgust, his dark brows creasing into a frown. “I should say you would want to stay away from that lame excuse of a man. Though I cannot imagine he let you go so easily. How did you manage to escape?”

She gave him a superior glance. “Listen.” He watched with interest as she screwed up her face in a surprisingly sour expression, affected a high-pitched nasal voice, and said with great condescension, “I couldn’t possibly marry anyone who isn’t able to quote Plato’s Republic or Sophocles’s Antigone.” She topped that off with a sentence in Greek.

“Quite an unattractive little voice you have there,” he quipped.

She laughed and resumed speaking in her natural voice. “That’s what I was hoping for. Anytime Lord Kingston asked me a question, I answered him in Greek. I’m not sure if he even understood what I was saying, but he looked utterly horrified. He couldn’t leave me fast enough when the music stopped. Coughing in his face probably scared him off as well.”

“You coughed in his face?” he asked in astonishment, pushing himself from his casual position at the railing to stare at her.

Caroline nodded with an exhilarated grin. “It would be rather frowned upon by the etiquette books.”

“I should say so.”

“I thought it quite inspired.”

“If anyone deserves that kind of treatment, it’s definitely Arthur Kingston. That’s the best bit of news I’ve heard all day. I admire your spirit.”

An unexpected thrill coursed through her at his compliment. “Thank you.” She went on to explain with an air of satisfaction, “I am sure by now the word is out that I am an original bluestocking and terribly ill-mannered and no one will want me.”

“That point is still debatable,” he said, eyeing her carefully.

Once again her cheeks grew warm, and she glanced away, suddenly shy. There was a brief moment of silence between them.

“You actually told him that he disgusts you?” Alex asked with quiet deliberation.

“You understand Greek?” The surprise registered on her face. She had not expected this from him.

“Yes, I happen to know some Greek, among other languages. And it is obvious that you are very well educated.” Alex paused deliberately and gave her a teasing look. “For a female.”

She rose to the bait and frowned at him. “Yes, I am very well educated, as a female should be.”

“And how did you come upon this vast education, Miss Armstrong?”

“Unlike most people”—she tossed him a disdainful glance—“my father was an enlightened and unprejudiced man who believed in educating women. He taught me everything he knew. History, literature, art, botany, astronomy, and philosophy. As well as Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and of course Greek.” She couldn’t resist smiling proudly.

He gazed at her. “Appallingly few women are as well educated as you are, Miss Armstrong. I am very impressed. With you and your father.”

Rather taken aback by his reaction, she had the wind taken out of her sails for she had been prepared to spar with him over that point. To her immense surprise, she was again thrilled by his unexpected praise. Most men did not care for intelligent women. That fact was now her secret weapon against unwanted suitors. Arthur Kingston and two other gentlemen practically ran from her when she demonstrated her academic knowledge. It was oddly gratifying to learn that this man, this very handsome man, approved of her unusual education. Caroline murmured a simple, “Thank you.”

“Your father sounds like a man I would enjoy meeting.”

“Oh.” She hesitated. “My father…he passed away last fall. And my mother died when I was twelve.”

“I’m terribly sorry.” His voice was filled with genuine concern, and the teasing look that had been on his face earlier disappeared. For some reason, that touched her. “You have my deepest sympathies, Miss Armstrong. My own father passed away last summer.”

She sensed his emotion and looked up into his dark eyes, and her heart thudded in her chest. “I am sorry for your loss as well.”

“Thank you.”

Tearing her gaze from those dangerous eyes, she clarified, “I live with my grandmother now.”

“Ah yes.” He nodded his head in acknowledgment. “The grandmother who insists upon you having a Season.” His eyebrows arched with interest, and the tender, sad moment between them passed. “Why put yourself through all this nonsense? Why not simply tell your grandmother that you do not wish to marry?”

Caroline shook her head. “You don’t know my grandmother. She would never understand the fact that I don’t want to marry anyone. She means well, but she doesn’t quite approve of my ‘vast’ education. In her eyes, a young lady’s only goal in life is to secure a successful marriage to a suitable man. That is all she can envision for my future.”

“I see.” Alex folded his arms comfortably across his broad chest and leaned back against the railing in a relaxed pose. “I am very intrigued. Please tell me, Miss Armstrong, what other strategies do you have planned for ridding yourself of unwanted admirers?”

“That’s it, I’m afraid. Aside from acting dull and academic, I wanted to wear spectacles and a very unflattering gown this evening, but then my grandmother would have surely seen through my plan.” It made no sense, but she could not seem to stop herself from telling him any of this.

“Yes, I can see where that would make her suspicious. Still, I think it would be very difficult for you to conceal your beauty, Miss Armstrong. Even with spectacles.” His appreciative gaze caused her skin to tingle.

Caroline gently shook her head and protested, “Besides, I’m too old to interest anyone. I’m twenty-two already!” Why was she confiding in him? How did he make her feel so at ease? Yet it was good to share her feelings openly with someone. She had held the burden of too many secrets for far too long. What did it matter if she told a stranger anyway?

He grinned at her, feigning shock. “As old as twenty-two, are you?”

“Yes…I’m almost a spinster for certain. No one could possibly be interested in me.”

“I think you would interest many young men in that ballroom, Miss Armstrong.”

Although the look he gave her caused her stomach to flutter, Caroline stated emphatically, “Well, Mr. Woodward, I can assure you that I have no interest in marrying anyone in that ballroom.”

“Aha!” he declared in triumph, eyeing her keenly, challenging her. “Then it’s just this particular ballroom that holds no interest for you.”

She scoffed at him, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Now wait a minute, Little Miss I-Don’t-Want-a-Husband. I think we have just come to the real reason that you say you don’t want to have a Season. It’s not that you don’t wish to marry. It’s that you don’t wish to marry anyone here.” Alex grinned knowingly, like the cat that ate the canary. When she made no response to the contrary, he continued with his theory. “I believe that there is a someone. Someone who is not here, whom you are very interested in marrying. This would also explain your sadness this evening. Am I correct, Miss Armstrong?”

“No, Mr. Woodward, you are not correct. In fact, far from it.” She uttered the words coolly, belying the fact that she was a little unnerved that he had so nearly guessed her secret. He knew way too much about her already, and she couldn’t afford to divulge any more information. Instead she turned the tables on him. “Why are you here tonight, Mr. Woodward? Are you looking for a wife?”

“Lord, no!” He looked at her slyly and raised one eyebrow. “Not in that ballroom, anyway. But what makes you think that I’m not married already?” he asked, his eyes lingering on hers.

“You don’t act as if you are married.”

“And just how does a married man act?”

“I’m not sure exactly”—she regarded him carefully—“but I have the distinct feeling that they don’t act the way you do. I have the impression you’re hiding.”

“Now what would I possibly be hiding from?” he asked with a charming grin, which caused her heart to skip a beat again.

“Most likely you are hiding out here to avoid the husband-hungry ladies and their mothers in the ballroom.” Glancing up at those dangerous eyes, she thought he certainly was handsome enough to have all those women falling at his feet.

“You are absolutely right, Miss Armstrong,” he conceded easily. “I am only in attendance tonight to fulfill a promise. I’m out here because I am most definitely trying to avoid the ladies in the ballroom.” After a moment, he added, “Now we know each other’s secrets.”

Idly running her fingers along the cool marble railing, she whispered, “It seems we do.”

“So here we are, the pair of us, out here hiding in the dark. Two people who don’t wish to marry”—he gave a sly wink—“anyone in that ballroom.”

Exasperated, she shook her head slightly and grinned at him. “You won’t give my secret away will you, Mr. Woodward?”

“If you promise to call me Alex and I can call you…Caroline, was it?”

“Caroline,” she repeated.

“Well, Caroline, since we know some secrets about each other, we should be on a first-name basis, don’t you think?”

“I think, Alex, that we have a deal then,” she agreed with a teasing smile, looking up at him. He reached for her, gently taking hold of both her small hands. She let out a little gasp of surprise, but she did not pull away.

Tiny tingling sensations began to build inside her as his hands held hers. Oh, she definitely should have left her gloves on! For now she could feel his warm skin and his strong yet soft fingers that held her gently but with a firm pressure. It was difficult to breathe because her heart was beating so rapidly. She had the oddest feeling that something very special was happening. She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, those dark eyes, and had the sensation that she was suddenly falling off a very, very steep cliff.

His voice was a whisper. “Shall we seal our secrets with a kiss?”